Spark-ignition system for explosion-engines.



No. 846,809. PATENTED MAR. 12, 1907. R. VARLEY & A. D. SCOTT. SPARK IGNITION SYSTEM FOR EXPLOSION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22.1905.

$ 1 M atl'ohww UNITED STATES- PATENT OE IOE;

RICHARD VARLEY, or ENGLEWOOD, NEW JERSEY, AND AROHIBALD DOUGLAS SCOTT, .OF PROVID NOE, RHODE ISLAND, .ASSIGNORSTO THE AUTOOOIL OMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 12, 1907.

Application filed March 22,1905. Serial No. 251.358.

To all whom, it may concern: I

Be it known that we, RICHARD VARLEY and ARCHIBALD DOUGLAS Soo'r'r, citizens of the United States, residing at Englewood,

county of Bergen, Stateof New J erse and Providence, county of Providence, an State of Rhode Island, respectively, have invented.

certain new and useful Improvements in Spark-I nition Systems for Explosion-Engines, o which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to the ignition system of explosion motors or engines, and com-v prises a system and apparatus involving two sources of electricity, two potential transformers or induction-coils, and two sets of electrodes or i nition devices in the engine cylinder or cy inders, in combination with means whereby either one of each of said pairs of apparatus or devices can be thrown into use at will, .or, if desired, both members of each or any pair of said apparatus may be likewise brought into use at will. Such a system, it will be apparent, afiords many advantages in the operation of such engines, it being possible, for instance, to shift from one battery to another on account of the weakening of the first, or to use both batteries simultaneously when they are needed, likewise to shift from one induction-coil to another in case one becomes incapacitated, or to use both, if desired; also, to use one ignition device or 'set of ignition devices in the engine cylinder or cylinders, or to use both sets of i ition devices in each cylinder when that is esirable. I

In" the o eration of explosion-engines it has been etermined by experiment that when the-explosive mixture is fired at two distant points in the body of the charge combustion of the charge takes place more quickly and a percentage of power is gained. Our invention rovides for the use of a double set of igniting devices-in the c linder or cylinders of the engine, the special orm of such devices illustrated, by way of example only, being known as the jump-spark.

The invention will be described in detail and its various advantages pointed out in connection with the accompanying draww in%s,.in whichigure 1* 1s a conventional representation of the apparatus and circuits involving our invention. Fi 2 is a view of a switch-plug, and Figs. 3'an 4 are modifications.

The Invention will be described in connection with a four-cylinder explosion-engine, although it will be understood that it is applicable to an engine having any number of cylindersfrom one u ward.

, The cylinders of t eengine are indicated by 1, 2, 3, and 4. V

'5 is a shaft driven from the engine-shaft at one-quarter of the speed thereof, and 6 is the same or a s' 'lar shaft driven at the same Speed I Each of the cylinders of the engine is provided with two spark-plugs or other igniting devices, (represented by 1 1 2 2 3 3 and 4: 4

7 and 8 are two sources of electricity, which may be either batteries or mechanical generators.

9 and 10 are respectively the primary and secondary windings of one induction-coil, while 11 and 12 are the primary and secondary windings of asecond induction-coil.

13 and 14 are two cut-out switches, the former adapted to connect in circuit either one Each shown in Fi 2. The plug in entering one of,

these holes ears againsto'ne or the other of the springs 17 18 and connects either one or 'both of said sprin s with theplat-e 15.

22 is a cam-dis on shaft 5, having eight lugs 23 equally spaced around its periphery, which are adapted-to act successively upon a spring-blade 24 to force the same into contact with a contact-screw 25, and thus close and open a circuit that leads through the blade and screw.

On the shaft Gis a hub 26, of insulating material, having two diametrically-arrange metallic arms 27 and 28, which are caused by the rotation of the shaft to simultaneously come into contact successively 'with four designations in the drawing as the sparkpairs of contact-points, which have the same nal of the plu plugs in the cylinders of the engine and correspond thereto. Contact is made with these points just before the contacts are made between the blade and screw 24 and 25.

The operation of the system so far described and the circuits comprised therein will now be given.

If it be desired to operate the engine with one battery-say 8and one inductioncoilsay 9 10--2fnd one set of sparkingplugs at a time, the switch-plug, Fig. 2, will be inserted in the hole 19 of switch 14 and a similar plug in hole 19 of switch 13. In this way it will be seen that battery 8 is put into series with primary winding 9 over the following circuit: by wire 29, spring 17, switchplug, plate 15, wire 30, plate of the second cut-out, switch-plug, spring 17, wire 31, primary 9, wire '10, contact-screw 25, blade 24, and wire 32 to battery. Thus each time cam 22 closes this circuit a current will flow from the battery 8 through the primary winding 9,-while the battery 7 and primary winding 11 will be out of circuit. It will be understood that the induction-coils may be equipped with the usual vibrators to give a series of rapid interruptions whenever the battery-circuit is closed by the cam. The high-tension current thus induced in the secondary winding 10 will flow by wire 33 to the arm 27, to which said wire is permanently connected, thence to one of the contactpoints upon which at that instant the arm is in connection. Assuming it to be 2*, current will then pass along the wire 34 to.one termi- 2" in cylinder No. 2, then across the spar gap to the terminal of said l plug, which is connected to the cylinder and frame of the machine. Thence. the circuit leads through the frame to the ground terminal of the secondary winding 10 (shown at 35) and is so completed, the charge being fired in cylinder 2. When the main crankshaft has turned through another half-rotation and shafts 5 and 6 have in the same time turned through one-eighth rotation, the circuit is again closed between blade 24 and screw 25, and another impulse is sent out from secondary winding 10, whichon this occasion passes by Way of contact 4, 'wire 36, plug 4 in cylinder 4, and back to the secondary through the frame. At the next half-rotation of the crank-shaft and corresponding eighth rotation of shafts 5 and 6 the secondary impulse, fiowsthrough contact 3, wire 37, and plug 3 in cylinder 3, and on the next closure the secondary impulse will travel by way of contact 1 and wire 38 to plug 1 in'cylinder 1.,1 Next the current will pass by contact 2?, wire 39, to plug 2 in cylinder 2, next .by contact 4" and wire 40 to plug 4* in cylinder 4, and next by contact 3", wire 41, to plu 3 in cylinder'3. Thus the charge is fired rst in cylinder 1, then in c linder 2, then in cylinder 4, and then in cylinder 3 in accordance with the usual practice,

and after each of the four cylinders have been fired from one set of plugs they are each fired by the other set of plugs, and so on, the sets of plugsbeing alternately brought into operation. one-half the service of a plug used in an engine where there is but a single plug in each cylinder and is consequently less liable to get out of order. i

If battery '8 weakens, battery 7 can be thrown in to take its placeby shifting the plug in switch 14 from the hole 19 to the hole 20, and when battery 7 weakens both batteries can be .connected in multiple by inserting the plug in hole 21 and their combined currents made available. Either of these combinations can be used in connection with the same induction-coil by leaving the condition of cut-out 13 as before described, and the operation of the cylinders will likewise be the same as before described. If the induction-coil 9 10 becomes incapacitated for any reason, the coil 11 12 can be thrown into circuit by shifting the plug from hole 19 of cut-out 13 to hole 20. With this connection the same operation will take place in the engine-cylinders; but the circuit will include wire 42, permanently connected to arm 28, instead of wire 22 and arm 27.

If new it is desired to fire the charge in the engine by means of two plugs acting simultaneously in each cylinder, the plug in cutout 13 will be shifted to hole 21, thus putting the two primaries into multiple connection with one or both batteries. With this connection it will be seen that the Secondary current flowing from winding 10 will pass to arm 27 contact 2, wire 34,plug 2 in cylinder 2 to ground at the same time that the current from secondary winding 12 passes to ground, cylinder 2, plug 2*, wire 39, contact 2, arm' 28, and the igniting spark will occur at the same instant in both plugs, and the charge will be accordingly ignited at two different points, affording quick combustion and more power. On the next closure the two currents will flow by way of contacts 4 and 4 to the fourth cylinder, on the next closure byway of contacts 3 and 3 to the third cylinder, and on the next closure by way of contacts 1 and 1 to the first cylinder. Here it will be seen that the current from secondary 10 has shifted from the plugs on the left-hand side of the cylinders to those on the righthand side of the cylinders, while the current from secondary 12 has shifted fromv plugs on the right-hand side of the cylinder to those on the left-hand side. The respective secondaries are so wound and connected that during the alternate half-rotation of shaft 6 the direction of the current impulses through the firing-plugs, which are caused by the breaks at the vibrator, is reversed, and the reversal will continue to occur after each four charges are fired. This follows directly from the structure shown in Fig. 1, it being evident that the brush 27 re- Y the contact 2. An advantage is obtained fromthis operation in the fact that the tips or electrodes of the plugs will wear evenly, and the passage of the arc does not cause the wearing away of one electrode and the build ingup of the other, as is the case where the hotter are or spark, due to the breaks at the ,vibrator, passes constantly in the same direction. v

The hub 26 with the arms 27 28 and the I various contact-points-with'which they enga e are known in the art as the distributerf but we believe we are the first to use a double distributer or one adapted to convey currents from either one or both of two induction-coils to one or two sets of igniting devices in the engine. a

It is obvious that a single induction-coil can be used in such a way ,as to create a spark simultaneously at the two plugs in an enginecylinder. How this can be done is shown in Fig. 3, where by means of a cut-out 43 either one of two batteries 7 and 8 can be connected with the '44 and where the terminals of the secondary 45 lead, respectively, to the arms 27 and 28.1 this case when the two arms are on two of the contacts of the distributer the current from the secondary winding 45will-pass to both plugs 50 and unite in the material of the cylinder 51, both plugs'beinggrounded thereon. I

Fig. 4 shows how the pr mary windings 46 and 47 of two induction-coils can be connected in series, while their secondary windings 48 and 49' are connected in series, respectively, with the two iplugsthat is to say, the current from secon a'ry 48 passes ata given instant to. one 111 52 in a cylinder and back 50 to the secondary t oufgh the frame or ground said igniting devices, a

tion-coils, and means whereby said igniting devices may be connected with the secondary G, while thefcurrent cm 49 passes to the other 'plugl52 in. the same cylinder and back to the same cylinder through the frame. Having described our invention, we claim'. Y I l 1. In an ignition system for explosion-en, gines, an engine-cylinder, having a plurality of igniting devices, in combination with a rotary distributer for-making connection with p urality of inducof any induction-coil through the distributer in any predetermined order.

2. In an ignition system for eXplosion-engines, a pair of induction-coils, a firing device havmg two electrodes, and means for impelling a unidirectional discharge of cu'rrent across said electrodes, for a certain interval of time in one direction and then a second unidirectional discharge across said electrodes in the opposite direction, said means acting to utilize for this purpose the current of first one coil and then the other, said coils being connected to discharge in opposite directions.

3. The combination of a multiple-cylinder engine, two igniting devices in each cylinder, two induction-coils and a distributing-switch constructed and arranged to direct current successively through each pair of igniting at successive explosions in the respective cylinders.

' 5. In an ignition system for ex losion-engines, the combination of a p urality of sources of electricity, a plurality of induction-coils, an igniting device and a single switch whereby any one of said sources of electricity can be connected with any induction-coil and the'latter connected with the igniting device.

6. In an ignition system for explosion-engines, the combination of an engine-cylinder avin two igniting devices, two inductioncoils aving their secondaries respectively connected with said i iting devices with reversed olarities, an a single primary circuit inc uding the primaries of both induction-coils whereby sparks in opposite directions are passed across the terminals of said igniting devices.

7. In an ignition system for explosion-engines, the combination of an engine-cylinder aving a plurality of i iting devices, a plurality of induction-coi s and a single switch for connecting the primary of any coil whereby its secondary circuitsuccessively discharges through said igniting devices in a predetermined orderl In witness whereof we subscribe our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

RICHARD VARLEY. ARGHIBALD DOUGLAS SCOTT. Witnesses:

' WM.-A.RosENBAU1u, WALDO M. CHAPIN.

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